After an impressive debut during the Maryland Film Festival, the Charles Theatre has booked some don't-miss movies this week.
In addition to Majid Majidi's tender drama "Children of Heaven," the theater has brought in three seminal documentaries by the legendary Maysles Brothers, which will be shown this weekend: "Salesman" (1968), about a group of Willy Loman-esque Bible salesmen; "Grey Gardens" (1976), about Edith and Edie Beale, a mother and daughter living in eccentric squalor on a crumbling Long Island estate, and, Friday and Saturday only, "Gimme Shelter" (1970), the Rolling Stones tour film that, among other things, inspired "This Is Spinal Tap."
Monday and Tuesday, the Chuck will bring back Wes Anderson's charmingly offbeat "Rushmore," as well as Anderson's first film, "Bottle Rocket," another wonderfully quirky comedy featuring by Anderson's collaborator, Owen Wilson.
Wednesday will feature a one-day-only appearance by "Surrender Dorothy" (1998), Kevin Di Novis' wacky comedy about a hapless busboy that has won honors at Slamdance, Baltimore's MicroCineFest and the New York Underground Film Festival.
Meanwhile, the Orpheum is presenting two of its biggest hits from the Maryland Film Festival this weekend: "Brakhage," Jim Shedden's acclaimed documentary about influential avant-garde filmmaker Stan Brakhage, and "Mary Jane's Not a Virgin Anymore," Sarah Jacobson's coming-of-age sex comedy. They play through Sunday.
Monday, the Orpheum brings back "Little Voice," in which Jane Horrocks plays a shy young woman who can express herself only in song, and which features an Oscar-nominated performance by Brenda Blethyn as her domineering mother.
`My Name is Joe'
Cinema Sundays at the Charles will show "My Name is Joe," Ken Loach's romance about a recovering alcoholic (Peter Mullan) and a social worker (Louise Goodall). Cinema Sundays founder George Udel will introduce the film and lead the post-screening discussion. Doors open at 9: 45 a.m.; the screening will begin around 10: 30. Coffee and bagels will be served. Memberships for the six remaining Cinema Sundays programs are still available for $72 ($60 for renewing members). Walk-up tickets may be purchased for $15 if seats are available.
`Thin Blue Line'
